Bootjack.



No. 835,147. PATBNTED NOV. 6, 1906. H. WEBER:

BOUTJAOK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7. 1905.

ill"? r ru: NORRIS rwnu 60., WASHINGTON, n: c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOOTJACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N 0v. 6, 1906.

Application filed September 7,1905. Serial No. 277.476.

To ail whom (It may concern:

Be it known that I, IIEINRICH WEBER, overseer, a subject of the German. Emperor, and a resident of 20 Elysiumstrasse, Stettin, in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bootjaeks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved bootjack having a spring-actuated heel-crutch and grippers for seizing the front of the boot during withdrawal of the foot. The arrangement is such that on the user inserting his foot in the jack and pressing back the heel in the ordinary manner the grippers close over the front of the boot automatically, and thus admit of easy withdrawal of the foot, whereu on the removed boot is again automatica ly released.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 a fragmentary plan, and Fig. 3 an end elevation, of the bootjack, the latter figure also showing a hand-rest secured to the jack. Figs. 4-6 are detail views to be hereinafter referred to.

The new bootjack consists of the base 1, which constitutes the top of the dust-tight box 3, which contains the mechanism. 2 2 are feet which give the base and box an inclined position in use. 5 is a hand-rest which may be screwed into or otherwise secured to the front ortion of the box 3 at one or more places. ft may be provided with a foot-rest 4, if desired. At the rear of the box 3 there is a support 8, which slides in the guides 6 and 7 and sustains the heel-crutch 9. In view of the back pressure exerted by the heel against the crutch the front guide 6 of the support 8 should be provided with antifriction rollers or spheres 10.

The rear end of the support 8 presents a pin on which is coiled a spring 11, whereby the support 8 is permanently pushed forward. The object of this is to maintain the grippers 12 13 at the front of the box 3 in open positionl For this purpose a short lever 14, located at right angles to the support 8, is provided for each grlpper 12 13. The other end of each of the levers is jointed to one extremity of a bell-lever 15, the other extremity of which is connected to the sup port 8 by a lever 16. The two bell-levers 15 are fulcrumed to a plate 15*, and the grippers 12 13 are supported by brackets 12*, to

which they are pivoted, Fig. 4. The arrangement is such that when the support 8 is fully forced back by the heel against the action of the spring 11 the grippers 12 13 just close together.

The heel-crutch 9 may be of any suitable character, but is preferably so formed that its gripping-surfaces diverge downwardly and outwardly. The crutch 9 is carried by an upright 17, having preferably the shape of a stirrup, so as to allow of the ready insertion of a spurred boot.

To prevent spraining of the ankle or the like through the user of the jack stumbling while the foot is held by the closed grippers 12 13, the latter may be made in two parts 12 and 12 as shown in Fig. 5, which are hinged together at 18 and are acted upon by a spring 19 This spring is fixed to the lower part 12 and by its free end lies against the upper part 12 so as to press the lower end of the latter against the part 12. Simi larly each limb of the stirrup sup orting the crutch may, as shown in Fig. 6, he made in two parts 17 17 hinged together at 18 and acted upon by a spring 19. Should the user stumble, the springs 19 and 19, (which are otherwise of sufficient strength to maintain the parts in the desired position,) will yield, whereby the parts 17 and 1.2 will open and release the foot.

It must be distinctly understood that I in no wise desire to restrict myself to the particular details of construction herein described, as these may be essentially varied without departure from the essential features of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bootj ack, comprising a base, aspringactuated heel-crutch sliding thereon, bootgrippers pivoted at the front of the base, and lever mechanism connecting the crutch and the grippers, whereby on the crutch being forced back by the heel of the user, the grippers seize the boot and enable ready withdrawal of the foot, substantially as described.

2. A boot jack, comprising a base, aspringactuated heel -crutch, antifriction guiding means in which the crutch slides on the base, boot-grippers pivoted at the front of the base, lever mechanism connecting the crutch and the grip ers, and a hand-rest secured to the base, su stantially as described.

3. A bootjack, comprising a base, a 11001- crutch, a spring-actuated stirrup supporting the same and sliding on the base, boot-grip pcrs pivoted at the front of the base, and lever mechanism connecting the stirrup and the grippers, substantially as described.

4. A bootjack, comprising a dust-tight inclined box, a heel-crutch, a spring-actuated stirrup projecting through the box-cover and supporting the crutch and having a base, located Within the box, antifriction guiding means, in which the stirrup-base slides, bootgrippers pivoted Within the box at the front thereof, and projecting through the boxcover, and lever mechanism connecting the stirrup-base and the grippers, substantially as described.

5. A bootjack, comprising a base; a twoliiubed. heel-crutch; a spring-actuated. stirrup, presenting springcontrolled hinged arms each carrying one limb of the crutch, said stirrup sliding on. the base; boot-grippers pivoted at the front oi the base and each presenting an upper s ')ring-controlled hinged limb; and lever mechanism connecting the stirrup and the grhupers; substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 26th day of May, 1905, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HEINRICH WEBER.

Witnesses:

ALBERT I'IETWIG, I'IANS HILIJEBRAND. 

